Excavation damage to pipelines can result in deaths and injuries, as well as property and environmental damage. Each year the UTC provides a summary and analysis of excavation damage.
Working with key damage prevention stakeholders in each State, PHMSA annually evaluates State damage prevention programs relative to the nine elements of effective damage prevention programs, as mandated by Congress in the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2006. More data and statistics on Excavation Damage to Pipelines in Washington is available via PHMSA's Washington State damage prevention page.